Optical data signal apparatus for optically coupling a plurality of data channels between stationary and rotating systems

Abstract

Disclosed is optical data signal apparatus for optically coupling a plurality of data channels between stationary and rotating systems. The optical data signal apparatus is useful in a rotary head scanner for coupling a plurality of data channels between a rotating head wheel, having a plurality of magnetic record/reproduce heads, and stationary signal processing circuitry. Each data channel of the apparatus includes an optical data signal transmitter, an optical data signal receiver and an optical coupling element for causing an optical data signal transmitted by the transmitter to be focused on the receiver. The plurality of optical coupling elements are preferably annular and arranged concentrically in a plane. Each optical coupling element focuses the optical data from a transmitter to a respective receiver which is positioned off axis with respect to the central axis of the concentric optical elements. Preferably the optical elements are holographic optical elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Optical data signal apparatus comprising: an optical data signal transmitter, an optical data signal receiver, and means for mounting said transmitter and said receiver for relative rotation with respect to one another about a rotational axis in a plane which is perpendicular to said rotational axis, wherein said transmitter and said receiver are axially spaced from one another and each of which is radially spaced from said axis; and   an annular, substantially planar, optical coupling element which has a central axis coincident with said rotational axis, which is spaced from and located between said transmitter and receiver and which causes a collimated optical data signal, which is transmitted by said transmitter along a path perpendicular to said element, to be focused along a path to said receiver.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver is stationary; wherein said transmitter rotates about said rotational axis; and   wherein said optical element is stationary and focuses an optical data signal transmitted by said rotating transmitter to said stationary receiver.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transmitter is stationary; wherein said receiver rotates about said rotational axis; and   wherein said optical element rotates about said rotational axis in synchronism with said receiver and focuses an optical data signal transmitted by said stationary transmitter to said rotating receiver.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said optical element is an annular holographic optical element which has a central axis coincident with said rotational axis and which causes a perpendicular collimated optical data signal to be focued to a single area which is off said axis and at which said receiver is located. 
     
     
       5. Optical data signal apparatus comprising: a stationary member which has a central axis and which mounts a stationary optical data signal transmitter and a stationary optical data signal receiver, each of which is radially spaced from said central axis;   a rotating member which is spaced from and which rotates about a rotational axis coincident with said central axis of said stationary member; wherein said rotating member mounts a rotating optical data signal transmitter and a rotating optical data signal receiver, each of which is radially spaced from said rotational axis;   a stationary, annular, substantially planar, optical coupling element located between said stationary and said rotating members and a rotating, annular, substantially planar, optical coupling element, located between said stationary and said rotating members, each of which has a central axis which is coincident with said rotational axis, and is spaced at a different radial distance from said rotational axis;   wherein said stationary optical coupling element causes a collimated optical data signal transmitted by said rotating optical data signal transmitter to be focused to said stationary optical data signal receiver; and   wherein said rotating optical coupling element causes a, collimated optical data signal transmitted by said stationary optical data signal transmitter to be focused to said rotating optical data signal receiver.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said optical elements are respectively holographic optical elements. 
     
     
       7. Optical data signal apparatus comprising: a stationary member which has a central axis and which mounts first and second stationary, optical data signal transmitters radially spaced from said central axis and first and second stationary, optical data signal receivers radially spaced from said central axis;   a rotating member which is spaced from said stationary member and which rotates about a rotational axis coincident with said central axis of said stationary member wherein said rotating member mounts first and second rotating, optical data signal transmitters radially spaced from said rotational axis and first and second rotating, optical data signal receivers radially spaced from said rotational axis;   a stationary optical coupling assembly, located between said stationary and rotating members, which has first and second, concentric, annular, stationary optical coupling elements and which has a central axis which is coincident with said rotational axis, wherein said coupling elements are disposed in a plane perpendicular to said rotational axis;   a rotating optical coupling assembly, located between said stationary and rotating members, (1) which has first and second, concentric, annular, optical coupling elements which rotate in a plane perpendicular to said rotational axis, and (2) which has a central axis which is coincident with said rotational axis; said annular elements of said rotating assembly being radially spaced from said rotational axis at different distances than said annular elements of said stationary assembly;   wherein said first and second optical coupling elements of said stationary optical coupling assembly cause perpendicular, collimated optical data signals transmitted by said first and second rotating optical data signal transmitters to be respectively focused on said first and second stationary optical data signal receivers; and   wherein said first and second optical coupling elements of said rotating optical coupling assembly cause perpendicular, collimated optical data signals transmitted by said first and second stationary optical data signal transmitters to be respectively focused on said first and second rotating optical data signal receivers.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said rotating member is a rotating head wheel of a rotary magnetic head scanner having a plurality of magnetic record/reproduce heads; and wherein said rotating transmitters and receivers are mounted on said head wheel and are electrically connected to said plurality of magnetic record/reproduce heads.